No more cartwheels at public hearings for this woman

No more cartwheels at public hearings for this woman

PHOENIX, Ariz. – A Phoenix woman has been asked to put a stop to her acrobatic routine at public hearings.

According to KPHO, Diane “DD” Barker recently attended a Maricopa Association of Governments meeting where she showed off her gymnastics skills prior to addressing county officials during a public hearing.

“I was in shorts, appropriately dressed,” said Barker, 65. “I was not near anybody that they could get hurt. I did a cartwheel and I did a split, too. They don’t talk about the splits. I got up.”

She said her demonstration was a way to show the benefits of riding her bicycle, exercise, and using public transportation.

Despite the positive response she received from the community, county officials were not happy with the cartwheel and sent the former teacher a letter demanding she stop the stunt.

The letter read in part:

“Public bodies may impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on speakers and the request that you not perform cartwheels is a reasonable and permitted restriction.

“Not following the rules may result in the Chair revoking your request to speak at the meeting.”

Bakers says she has done cartwheels in the past and was told to stop because of concerns she might hurt somebody or herself.

She says she does the cartwheel away from everyone, and is willing to sign a waiver.